Can seamer mechanism



sept 25, 1934. l s. C, CRUGGS 1,975,022

GAN SEAMER MECHANISM ,fm dampamws ATTORNEY Sept. 25, 1934. s. c. scRuGGs CAN SEAMER MECHANISM Filed Dec.. 19, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 30 .al v .f

L9 /f M- I lx ||A nvm' "in a ,54am damp 50m2/ggg@ U -WVENTOR Patented Sep't. 25, 1934 PATENT IOFFICE CAN SEAMER MECHANISM Sam C; Scruggs, Whitney, Tex.

Application Deeember 19, 1932, serial Ne. 647,9591/2 1 Claim. (C1. 113-23) v10 struction, combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter' more fully vdescribed and claimed.

For a complete understanding of my invention,

reference is to be had to the'followingdescription i115 and accompanying drawings, in which Figure v1 is -aside elevation partly in section illustrating a combination can reconditioning and sealing machine constructed in accordance with my invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan view illustrating the same.

'Figure 3 is a sectional view takenon the line 3--3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary side elevation illuspartly in section l2 5 .trating the machine adjusted for reconditioning a can.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional View illustrating another adjustment of the machine for the second step in reconditioning the can.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view showing a portion of a can reconditioned and engaged by a cover. 1

Figure 7 is a similar view illustrating the crimping of the. cover to the can. v

Figure 8 is a similar view illustrating the sealing of the cover to the can after the crimping operation as shown in- FigureY 7.'

Figure 9 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view illustrating the means of flaring the walls of the can prior to the application of the cover thereto and after the open'end of the can has been trimmed; l

Referring in detail to the drawings', the numeral 1- indicates v al base carrying a vertical post` or l stand 2 for supporting a combined can trimming and cover sealing mechanism '3. Thefstand or post 2 is located at one end of the base, whilethe other end of the base carries a combined cansiipporting mechanism and flaring means 4.

The combined can trimming and cover crimping and sealing means 3 consists of a casing 5 carried by the stand or post 2 and a tubular shaftsupporting sleeve 6 supported by the casing 5 kand arranged at rightV angles thereto -with onev end over the combined Acan-supporting mechanism and flaring means 4. The latter-named end of the sleeve 6 carries a housing 7 in which is removably mounted a shaft 8 arranged vertically and carrying aty its lower end an operating ldisc 9, the periphery of which is serrated to frictionally grip either the walls of a can or the bottom thereof during the various operationsof the machine. The upper end of the shaft 8 is reduced and annularly grooved, as shown at 10, to be engaged by a locking means consisting of a spring pressed ball l1 fitting in the groove of the shaft which permits free rotation of the shaft without accidental displacement of the shaft froml the housing 7.

However, when desiring to remove the shaft, a

downward pullupon the disc 9 frees the grooved 'IQ portion of said shaft from the locking means rso that the shaft may be withdrawn from the housing. The shaft 8 is provided with angularly related faces fitting correspondinglyshaped faces in the hub portion of a gear 12,Y the latter meshing with a gear 13 secured to one end of an operating shaft 14 journaled in the sleeve 6, the other end of the shaft having secured thereto an operating handle 15 whereby the disc 9 may be manually rotated.

The casing 5 carries a bracket 16 which ex'- tends parallel with the sleeve 6 for pivotally supporting a head 17 adjacent the operating disc 9, the front and rear edges of the head being arcuate.Y The head removably and rotatably supports the crimping element 18, a sealing element 19 and a cutting element 20. The elements 18, 19 and 20 are removable from the head and interchangeable with each other. The crimping element 18 is a'circular block peripherally grooved and provided with marginal crimping flanges, as shown in Figure 7, and the sealing element 19 is constructed similarly to the crimping element 18, except as to its curvature of groove and distance between the marginal flanges so that when acting on a cover after the crimping of the latter, the cover will be sealed to the'wall of the can, as shown in Figure 8. The cutting element 20 is of the circular type, as shown in Figure 4.

Tension springs 21 are connected to the bracket 16 and to the head 17 for normally maintaining the latter in a position to disengage the Yelements mounted thereon from the walls oi a can positioned on the combined can supporting mechanism and flaring means 4.

Operating rods 22 are adjustably and pivotally connected to the ends of the head 17 and are slidably received in bearings 23 removably se- 'Cil - movement.

naled in the casing 5 and. driven from the shaft 14 by a worm and worm gear as clearly shown in the drawings. The cams 25 are oppositely arranged on the shaft 26 for the purpose of alternately advancing the ends of the head towards and from the can for the purpose of alternating the engaging of the crimping and sealing elements 18 and 19 with the can and also to bring the cutting element 20 into engagement with the walls of a can when said cutting element has been substituted for either the crimping element 18 or the sealing element 19. tension the head in such a way that the rollers on the operating arms 22 are caused to follow the cams 25.

The casing 5 is slotted to receive the bearings 23 and the latter are detachably secured to end covers 27 for closing the ends of the casing 5, and the covers are removably secured to the casing and carry bearings 28 in which the ends of 'the shaft 26 are journaled.

Each operating arm 22 is of extensible telescopic construction, as indicated at 220, for the purpose of setting the head closer to or farther from the disc 9. The pivots of the operating arms may be engaged in either of the openings 221 in the head so that the mechanism may be adjusted to accommodate cans of different sizes.

The head 17 is guided or steadied in its movement by elements 29 threaded through the head and riding against flanges 30 on the sleeve 6. It is preferable that the ends of the elements 29,

,adjacent the flanges 30 be provided with anti- .friction mediums 3l that ride against the iianges.

The combined can-supporting mechanism and Iiaring means 4 consists of a vertically arranged sleeve 32 formed integrally with the base 1 and having its upper edge stepped, as shown in Figure l. A sleeve 33 is disposed above the sleeve 32 and has its lower edge stepped, as shown in Figure 1, providing means whereby the sleeve 33 rmay be supported in a higher or lower plane,

the sleeve 33 being provided with a knurled rib 34 to facilitate gripping the sleeve for lifting and turning the same. Ah inner sleeve 35 ts within the sleeves 32 and 33 and is longitudinally grooved, as shown at 36, to receive a set bolt 37 carried by the sleeve 32 for preventing the inner sleeve from rotating but permit vertical adjustment thereof. A cam element 38 is formed integrally with the upper end of the inner sleeve 35 and is engageable with a cam element 39 provided with an operating handle 40. The cam element 39 is provided with a tubular extension 41 depending within the inner sleeve 35 and is further provided with an opening in alinement with the extension 41 to receive a supporting shaft 42 and permit the latter to extend into the extension 41. A combined supporting table and flaring means 43 is removably and rotatably Anti-friction means 45 is carried by the combined table and flaring means 43 to engage supporting shaft 42 for the 'purpose of reducing friction between said. parts to a minimum. A coil spring 46 surrounds the shaft 42 with one end bearing against the cam `element 39 and the other end bearing against the flange 44 for the purpose of cushioningly and Yyieldingly supporting the combined table and lflaring means 43, it being understood that the supporting shaft 42 is free ior vertical sliding The table maybe removed from the supporting shaft and reversed, and then again The springs 2l tted thereto, and one face thereof is provided with a series of annular grooves to form spaced seats 47 to accommodate the bottoms of cans of different sizes. The opposite face of the combined table and aring means 43 is provided with a series of annular ribs 48 to accommodate cans of diiferent sizes for the purpose of flaring their walls, as shown in Figure 9. Each rib 48 has its inner wall straight while its outer wall is flared to produce a proper iiare to the wall of a can during the operation of the machine and which will be hereinafter specifically set forth.

The purpose of the cam elements 38 and 39 is for adjusting the combined table and iiaring means 43 towards and from the operating disc 9 so that a cam when positioned on the table may be readily brought into engagement with the operating disc 9 by swinging the lever 49 in a proper direction to cause the cam elements 38 and 39 to bring about an elevation of the table. When operating on cans of different sizes various elevations of the table 43 may be had by adjusting the sleeve 33 relative to the sleeve 32, this being Aaccomplished by the stepped edges of the sleeves 32 and 33.

During certain operations of the machine it is desirable that the combined table and flaring means 43 be prevented from having yieldable movement and to accomplish this, a sleeve 49 is provided which may be interposed between the' cam element 39 and the iiange 44 of the shaft 42, thereby destroying the action of the spring 46.

During certain operations of the machine the table 43 must be locked against rotation and to accomplish this a socket 50 is formed in the periphery of the table to receive the free end of a pivoted holding arm 51 carried by the stand or post 2, which arm may be disengaged from the socket 50 when desiring to free the table for rotation.

All cans are constructed with a seam in the Wall thereof. Usually this steam is formed by overlapping the material of the wall, causing a stiifening of the Wall along the seam which tends to resist pressure exerted upon the can to are` the same. To meet this condition a slotted aring or bending element 52 is carried by the stand or post 2. By inserting the end of the seamed portion of a can in the slot and then moving or tilting the can relative to the element 52 a proper bend or are may be formed along the seam at the mouth of the can. The iiaring of the mouth of the can may then be completed by engaging the can between the table and the disc 9 and applying pressure.

The rst step or use of this machine is to trim the mutilated open end or mouth of a used can. The can is first positioned upon the table and the latter adjusted to bring the can into a position to receive the operating disc 9 in its open end with the operating disc having frictional contact with the walls of the can. The cutting element is applied to the head 17 and by rotating the operating handle 15, the can is rotated through the operating disc 9, and the table rotates with the can.

During the rotation of the can the cutting element 20 is advanced in engagement with the Wall of the can, severing the latter to remove the mutilated open end or mouth of the can.

The table is next reversed, disposing the ribs 48 upwardly and the open end of the can is brought into engagement with the proper rib, the sleeve 49 having first been placed between the flange 44 and the cam element 39 to support the table against yielding movement. The holding arm 51 is brought into engagement with the socket 50 locking the table against rotation. The table is then elevated to bring the closed end of the inverted can into frictional engagement with the operating disc 9. The handle 15 is then rotated, causing a rotation of the can relative to the table, bringing about the iiaring of the mouth, as shown in Figure 9, thereby conditioning the can to receive a new cover.

After the last described operation, the sleeve 49 is removed and the table freed and again reversed to dispose the grooves 4'7 uppermost. The reconditioned can is then placed upon the table 43 and the latter adjusted to bring the operating disc 9 into engagement with the Walls of the can inwardly of the mouth of the latter. The crimping and sealing elements are then applied to the head 17 and during the rotation of the handle 15, the can is rotated and rst the crimping element is brought into engagement with the can and the new cover, bending the latter to engage the wall of the can, as shown in Figure '7. A further rotation of the operating handle 15 brings the sealing element 19 in engagement with the crimped portion of the cover, sealing the latter to the wall of the can, as shown in Figure 8. If desired, a suitable gasket may be placed between the wall of the can and the new cover, as shown in Figures 6 to 8, so as to complete and hermetically seal the can after the various operations, and as show n in Figure 8.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that minor changes in construction, combination and arrangement of parts may be made Without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, as claimed.

Having described the invention, I claim:

A can seamer mechanism comprising a base, means for supporting a can vertically on the base, a Vertical post carried by said base, a tubular casing mounted to the upper end of the post, a horizontally disposed tubular shaft supporting sleeve mounted on the casing and arranged at right angles thereto, a housing mounted to one end of the sleeve and arranged in vertical alignment with the can supporting means, an operating shaft journaled in the sleeve, means for rotating the shaft, can engaging means removably mounted to the housing and geared to said shaft for imparting rotation to the can, a bracket paralleling the sleeve and secured at one end to the housing, a cam shaft journaled in the casing, means connecting said cam shaft to the operating shaft and conned in the casing and sleeve, an elongated head pivoted intermediate its ends to the bracket, push rods slidably supported by the casing and engaged by the cam shaft and pivoted to the ends of the head, springs connected to the ends of the head and to the bracket, and can seamers carried by the ends of the head.

SAM C. SCRUGGS. 

